Natus Vincere have secured their place in the Counter-Strike 2 Esports World Cup 2026 playoffs after defeating defending champions The MongolZ 2-1 in Group D.
NAVI opened the series with a convincing 13-5 victory on Inferno before The MongolZ answered 13-9 on Ancient. Mirage decided the series, where NAVI recovered from a tied first half to close the map 13-8.
The victory sends NAVI directly into the Round of 16. The MongolZ remain alive but must now survive the lower bracket if they want to defend their EWC title.
NAVI take control of The MongolZ’s Inferno
The MongolZ started their own map pick well.
The defending champions claimed the opening three rounds on Inferno, but NAVI quickly took control once full weapon rounds began. Their CT setup repeatedly prevented The MongolZ from converting early map control into successful site executions.
NAVI eventually entered halftime with an 8-4 advantage.
The key developments on Inferno included:
- The MongolZ opening the map with a 3-0 lead
- NAVI taking control after the first full-buy rounds
- makazze closing the map with a four-kill round
After switching sides, NAVI won five of the next six rounds and completed a comfortable 13-5 victory.
The result immediately put pressure on The MongolZ, who needed to win NAVI’s Ancient pick to keep the series alive.
The MongolZ respond on Ancient
Ancient produced a much more competitive battle.
The MongolZ again started quickly and moved into a 4-0 advantage on the CT side. NAVI recovered several rounds, but The MongolZ maintained enough control to finish the opening half ahead.
After the side switch, NAVI tied the map at 8-8 and appeared capable of closing the series in two.
The MongolZ had another answer.
Strong attacking rounds, including important contributions from DarkMeister, allowed the defending champions to regain control and win Ancient 13-9.
| Map | NAVI | The MongolZ |
|---|---|---|
| Inferno | 13 | 5 |
| Ancient | 9 | 13 |
| Mirage | 13 | 8 |
The result forced Mirage and created the first three-map upper-bracket series of the day.
Instead of allowing the Ancient loss to affect the decider, NAVI immediately rebuilt their defensive structure and produced their strongest start of the series on Mirage.
Mirage decides the playoff spot
NAVI opened Mirage with far more aggression.
Their CT side moved into a 6-1 advantage before The MongolZ finally stabilized. The defending champions gradually worked their way back into the map and managed to reach halftime tied at 6-6.
That recovery could have completely shifted the momentum.
Instead, NAVI took the second pistol round and used it to establish another economic advantage. The MongolZ struggled to produce the same resistance on their CT side, allowing NAVI to build a decisive lead.
The European roster eventually closed Mirage 13-8 and secured the series.
The result gave NAVI:
- A 2-1 victory over the defending EWC champions
- Direct qualification for the Round of 16
- A second consecutive Group D victory after beating 3DMAX in the opener
NAVI therefore avoid the remaining lower-bracket matches and can begin preparing for the single-elimination playoff stage.
makazze continues to settle into NAVI lineup
The series also provided another important test for NAVI’s current roster.
Drin “makazze” Shaqiri delivered one of the most memorable moments on Inferno with the four-kill sequence that ended the opening map.
Across the series, NAVI did not rely on one overwhelming individual performance. iM, w0nderful and Aleksib all contributed important rounds as the team navigated three different maps.
That balance becomes particularly valuable in a tournament where the playoffs switch to single elimination.
One weak series from a star player can end an entire campaign, making contributions across the lineup increasingly important as the field narrows.
The MongolZ must defend their title through lower bracket
The defeat does not eliminate The MongolZ.
As defending champions, they now face a significantly more difficult route toward another EWC title.
Their next opponent is paiN Gaming, who survived their own elimination match by defeating Wildcard 2-1.
The winner advances to the Round of 16. The loser leaves Paris.
That makes the upcoming series The MongolZ’s first true elimination test of the tournament. Their 2025 championship offers no protection under the 2026 format.
Another defeat immediately ends their title defense.
Group stage enters decisive phase
NAVI join a growing list of teams already confirmed for the playoffs.
GamerLegion and G2 advanced from Group A, while Falcons and FaZe secured their positions through Group B. B8 and FUT Esports also booked places from Group C after defeating Vitality and MOUZ respectively.
The remaining positions will be settled through the lower brackets.
That creates significant pressure for several highly ranked teams that entered Paris expecting deep runs but now face elimination series before even reaching the Round of 16.
Assessment
NAVI’s victory over The MongolZ is an important result beyond simply securing another playoff spot.
The MongolZ entered the tournament as defending champions and showed on Ancient that they remain capable of punishing mistakes. NAVI nevertheless responded immediately on Mirage and controlled the second half when qualification was on the line.
The result gives NAVI the safest possible route out of Group D and removes the danger of another elimination series.
For The MongolZ, the situation is now completely different. Their title defense continues, but there is no remaining safety net.
NAVI can prepare for the playoffs. The defending champions must first prove they deserve to join them.
